diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/AI/BaseBuilder.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/AI/BaseBuilder.cs
index 97edb93780..8862c59de3 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/AI/BaseBuilder.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/AI/BaseBuilder.cs
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.AI
 
 		int waitTicks;
 		Actor[] playerBuildings;
+		int failCount;
+		int failRetryTicks;
 
 		public BaseBuilder(HackyAI ai, string category, Player p, PowerManager pm, PlayerResources pr)
 		{
@@ -37,10 +39,15 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.AI
 			playerPower = pm;
 			playerResources = pr;
 			this.category = category;
+			failRetryTicks = ai.Info.StructureProductionResumeDelay;
 		}
 
 		public void Tick()
 		{
+			// If failed to place something N consecutive times, wait M ticks until resuming building production
+			if (failCount >= ai.Info.MaximumFailedPlacementAttempts && --failRetryTicks <= 0)
+				failCount = 0;
+
 			// Only update once per second or so
 			if (--waitTicks > 0)
 				return;
@@ -63,7 +70,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.AI
 			var currentBuilding = queue.CurrentItem();
 
 			// Waiting to build something
-			if (currentBuilding == null)
+			if (currentBuilding == null && failCount < ai.Info.MaximumFailedPlacementAttempts)
 			{
 				var item = ChooseBuildingToBuild(queue);
 				if (item == null)
@@ -77,6 +84,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.AI
 				// Production is complete
 				// Choose the placement logic
 				// HACK: HACK HACK HACK
+				// TODO: Derive this from BuildingCommonNames instead
 				var type = BuildingType.Building;
 				if (world.Map.Rules.Actors[currentBuilding.Item].Traits.Contains<AttackBaseInfo>())
 					type = BuildingType.Defense;
@@ -88,9 +96,11 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.AI
 				{
 					HackyAI.BotDebug("AI: {0} has nowhere to place {1}".F(player, currentBuilding.Item));
 					ai.QueueOrder(Order.CancelProduction(queue.Actor, currentBuilding.Item, 1));
+					failCount += failCount;
 				}
 				else
 				{
+					failCount = 0;
 					ai.QueueOrder(new Order("PlaceBuilding", player.PlayerActor, false)
 					{
 						TargetLocation = location.Value,
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/AI/HackyAI.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/AI/HackyAI.cs
index 82485786bc..15225e8a1c 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/AI/HackyAI.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/AI/HackyAI.cs
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.AI
 		[Desc("Minimum delay (in ticks) between creating squads.")]
 		public readonly int MinimumAttackForceDelay = 0;
 
+		[Desc("Minimum portion of pending orders to issue each tick (e.g. 5 issues at least 1/5th of all pending orders). Excess orders remain queued for subsequent ticks.")]
+		public readonly int MinOrderQuotientPerTick = 5;
+
 		[Desc("Minimum excess power the AI should try to maintain.")]
 		public readonly int MinimumExcessPower = 0;
 
@@ -58,8 +61,12 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.AI
 		[Desc("How long to wait (in ticks) between structure production checks ticks when actively building things.")]
 		public readonly int StructureProductionActiveDelay = 10;
 
-		[Desc("Minimum portion of pending orders to issue each tick (e.g. 5 issues at least 1/5th of all pending orders). Excess orders remain queued for subsequent ticks.")]
-		public readonly int MinOrderQuotientPerTick = 5;
+		[Desc("How long to wait (in ticks) until retrying to build structure after the last 3 consecutive attempts failed.")]
+		public readonly int StructureProductionResumeDelay = 1500;
+
+		[Desc("After how many failed attempts to place a structure should AI give up and wait",
+		"for StructureProductionResumeDelay before retrying.")]
+		public readonly int MaximumFailedPlacementAttempts = 3;
 
 		[Desc("Minimum range at which to build defensive structures near a combat hotspot.")]
 		public readonly int MinimumDefenseRadius = 5;